Medium Earth Orbit Search and Rescue

Project Type

Project Replace

Objective

The Medium Earth Orbit Search and Rescue (MEOSAR) project will deliver a space segment, comprising up to 22 Search and Rescue (SAR) repeaters that will be hosted on the United States Air Force (USAF) Global Positioning System (GPS) Block IIIF satellites. The project will also deliver a ground segment comprised of two satellite ground stations in Canada (Riverbend [near Edmonton], AB and Goose Bay, NL) with specialized satellite tracking software and information processing systems. This system is used to locate persons in distress when an emergency locator beacon has been activated.

Requirements

The MEOSAR repeaters, operating in Medium Earth Orbit, will reduce beacon detection times and calculate beacon coordinates more accurately for the coordination, execution and dispatch of Search And Rescue (SAR) resources; thus ensuring a more timely response to distress alerts anywhere within the Canadian SAR Area Of Responsibility. The project will also require a ground segment to track MEOSAR satellites to process and provide location information of activated distress alerts. The two segments combined represent a significant improvement over the existing systems. The MEOSAR system is expected to deliver improved response times for SAR activities in Canada’s three ocean approaches and the entire land mass. Note: MEOSAR is divided into Ground (GD) and Space (SP) Segments for which the milestones are: GD Implementation will have Initial Operating Capability (IOC) in Jul 2023, and Full Operating Capability (FOC) in Aug 2023. Space Segment implementation will have the first repeater available for launch with GPS in 2026, will all 22 repeaters launched by 2035.

Funding Range

$100 million to $249 million

Anticipated Timeline (Fiscal Year)

Options Analysis Phase

Completed

Definition Phase

Completed

Implementation Phase

In Progress

Initial Delivery

2026/2027

Final Delivery

2035/2036

Defence Capability Areas

• Air
• Space
• Surveillance & Reconnaissance
• Emerging Technology
• Training and Simulation

Defence Capability Investment Areas

• Aerospace Structures and components
• Earth-based support systems
• Satellite Subsystems
• Satellites and Space-based Vehicles
• Support and Monitoring Systems
• Surveillance of/from Space
• Advanced/Integrated Sensing Systems
• Tracking systems
• Advanced/Emerging Technologies
• Training Services

Key Industrial Capabilities

Not applicable.

Contact Us

Do you have any questions or comments about the Defence Capabilities Blueprint? The DCB is managed by the Directorate of Capability Integration at National Defence. To help us connect you with the appropriate subject matter or technical expert, please select whether your query is related to the DCB in general, is related to a project, or if you require technical support. If you request follow up, we will endeavour to acknowledge your request within 7 working days.